Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested background information relating to Lord Carter's report -�Securing the Future: Proposals for the efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales-�. The complainant was directed to some information available in the public domain. In relation to the remainder of the information it held that fell within the scope of the request, the public authority cited the exemption provided by section 35(1)(a) (information relating to the formulation or development of government policy). The Commissioner finds that this exemption was engaged, but that the public interest in the maintenance of this exemption did not outweigh the public interest in disclosure and that, in failing to disclose this information within 20 working days of receipt of the request, the public authority failed to comply with sections 1(1)(b) and 10(1) of the Act. The Commissioner also finds that the public authority failed to comply with the requirements of sections 10(1) and 17(1) in that it did not respond to the request within 20 working days of receipt. The public authority is required to disclose the information in question to the complainant.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 35 - Complaint Upheld